Shoe tree



May 19,1970

A. MESSINGER SHOE TREE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1968 May 19, 1970 A. MESSlNGE" SHOE TREE 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1968 'I Z'IIIII/A May 19, 1970 A. MESSiNGER 3,51

- I SHOE TREE Filed April 16, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,512,199 SHOE TREE Abraham Messinger, 50 Park Ave., New York, N. 10016 Filed Apr. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 721,803 Int. Cl. A43d /00, 15/00, 19/00, 95/00 US. Cl. 12117.4 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shoe tree including a toe part and a heel part each of unitary construction, which parts are constructed to include means to connect the parts together in a plurality of positions to accommodate different length shoes, the said means including trunnion means on one part and longitudinally spaced, transversely aligned pairs of apertures and bearing surfaces incorporated with the apertures having an axial extent greater than the wall thickness of the part adjacent the aperture and where the shoe tree is for womens shoes the heel part is constructed to cooperate with womens shoes having either a closed heel or an open heel.

The present invention relates to shoe trees.

More particularly this invention relates to two-part shoe trees. Still more particularly the invention relates to a two-part shoe tree including a toe part insertable in the toe portion of a shoe and a heel part adjustably connectable with the toe part to accommodate shoes of different sizes and in which each part is preferably formed from a suitable synthetic resin material by an appropriate molding process, thereby providing toe and heel parts of unitary construction. In this connection the material utilized for fabrication of the shoe tree parts is of a type that has a certain resiliency characteristic when formed in rather thin web sections which, while providing sufficient strength, will permit the required amount of flexing of the parts in connecting the same together.

Accordingly the present invention has for an object to provide such a two-part shoe tree of unique and inexpensive construction.

A more particular object is to provide such a shoe tree for womens shoes in which the heel part is constructed so as to be adjustably locked in relation to the toe part to accommodate different size shoes and also is so constructed as to provide longitudinal stretching forces for different style shoes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a twopart plastic shoe tree for womens shoes comprising a toe part including a shaped fore or front section to fit within the toe of such a shoe and a rearwardly extending shank portion, a heel part having a front section and a shaped rear section or heel block including an upstanding curved rear surface having a reversely curved portion intermediate the top and bottom thereof so as to cooperate with different styles of womens shoes and means for removably and pivotably securing the parts together at a plurality of positions for changing the effective length of the shoe tree.

It is a further object to provide a shoe tree of the twopart type in which one part includes a channel shaped shank structure including side walls having a series of longitudinally spaced apertures arranged in transversely aligned pairs of trunnion receiving apertures and the other part includes a bifurcated end portion having oppositely directed aligned trunnions projecting outwardly from each leg of the bifurcated end portion for positioning in a selected pair of said apertures and in which an improved trunnion supporting and bearing relationship is embodied in the shank structure.

It is a still more particular object of this invention to iCE provide a two-part shoe tree of the type in which opposite trunnions on one part are selectively engageable in one pair of a series of longitudinally spaced, transversely aligned pairs of apertures in the other part and in which the total length of bearing surfaces adjacent and facing each trunnion is in excess of the wall thickness of the part that is between adjacent apertures.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of a shoe tree.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toe part and heel part of the shoe tree in disassembled relation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the parts of the shoe tree in assembled relation.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are respective top, side and bottom elevational views illustrating the heel part of the improved shoe tree on a reduced scale.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are opposite end elevational views looking respectively in the directions indicated by the arrows 66 and 77 in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken respectively along lines 88 and 99 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken transversely through the heel part at the center-line of the trunnions thereof and through the shank of the toe part at the center-line of one pair of apertures and illustrating the trunnions and apertures with the parts in disassembled relation.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10' but illustrating the trunnions in assembled relation within the apertures.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are respective top, side and bottom views illustrating the toe part of the improved shoe tree on a reduced scale.

FIG. 15 is vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from the right.

FIG. 17 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along lines 1717 of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are transverse cross-sectional views taken respectively along lines 18-18 and 19-19 of FIG. 14.

With reference to the drawings there is illustrated in the several figures a preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporating the unique and advantageous principles of construction. Thus as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the novel shoe tree includes a toe part generally indicated at 1 and a heel part generally indicated at 2, both molded from a suitable resilient synthetic resin material such as of the polypropylene type. The toe part includes a shaped section 3 to fit within the toe of a womans shoe and a channel-shaped shank 4 extending rearwardly from the shaped section. The rear end of the shaped section slants down and in, and is closed. Thus a web 5 of material includes a section 5' that extends across and closes the back of shaped toe section 3 and another web section 5 extends across the front or adjacent end of, and closes the Chanel-shaped shank 4. Further, spaced, parallel strengthening ribs 6 depend beneath toe section 3 as shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 17. As is clear from FIG. 15, these ribs taper upwardly from the front end or outer surface of the portion 5" of web 5 that closes the front end of channel-shaped shank 4.

The respective side walls 7 and 8 of the shank 4 taper upwardly and outwardly from a bottom 9. A series of longitudinally spaced transversely aligned combined trunnion-receiving and supporting apertures 10 are molded in the side walls. As clearly shown the material of the side walls is molded to extend inwardly to provide a series of lower half bearing portions 11 having vertical inner surfaces on the inside of each side wall 7 and 8. The exterior of the side walls have depressions beneath each aperture. The upper half bearing portion 12 of each trunnion-receiving aperture is formed in the side walls proper. Thus the total length of bearing surfaces that cooperate with and face each trunnion have an extent axially of the trunnion greater than the wall thickness of the side walls 7 and 8 between adjacent apertures in the shank, and as shown in FIG. 11 the trunnions are engaged by a facing bearing surface throughout their length.

Further the lower surface of the front portion of the bottom 9 is inclined upwards as shown at 13 to be in a line that merges with the bottom surface of the strengthening ribs 6. This angled front end portion of the bottom of the shank structure facilitates adjustment of the toe section in different sizes and styles of womens shoes.

The corners of the side walls with the bottom are rounded both internally and externally to provide a smooth appearance.

The heel part 2 is also of channel shape and includes side walls 14 and 15 which are generally divergent but are depressed inwards at 16 to provide a lower portion extending throughout the major extent of the heel part intermediate its ends. This lower depressed portion has outer walls that are straight. Also the side walls are merged inwardly adjacent the front end of the heel part to provide a reduced width front end that is bifurcated and includes spaced legs or portions 17 and 18. Trunnions 19 project from the exterior of the legs or end portions 17 and 18 for selective engagement in a pair of transversely aligned apertures 10 in the shank of the toe part.

The rear end or heel block portion of the heel part is shaped to provide an upward extension 20 having a curved rear end 21 as shown which includes a reversely curved or undercut portion 22 beneath a tip 23. This shaping of the extension or heel block provides a heel part that enables the lower portion of the curved rear end to fit down inside the heel of womens shoes while if the style is of the heelless or open heel variety, the

heel strap thereof can be received in the reversely curved portion 22.

In using the improved shoe tree the toe part is inserted in the toe of a shoe. The shank will extend upwardly from the base of the lower rim of the shaped toe section. Then the legs of the bifurcated end of the heel part are pressed toward one another until the trunnions can fit into a selected pair of apertures on the shank of the toe part and the heel part is swung downwards to fit the extension 20 into tight engagement with the interior of the heel of the shoe.

If the shoe is of the open heeled variety having a heel strap the extension 20 of the heel part has the heel strap extending therearound and accommodated in the reversely curved portion 22 of the extension.

While the dimensions of the component toe part and heel part can vary as dictated by style and size factors of shoes, the parts of one example of the invention are dimensioned so that the toe part has an overall length of about 7%". The upper edges of the walls of the shank portion 4 are 4%." long, the web portion 5 angles upwardly and forwardly by an angle of about 12, and the upper surface of the shaped toe section is about 2 along its center line. The axial extent between the rear surface of web portion 5" and the center line of the closest pair of apertures 10 is /1" while the center lines of the transversely aligned pairs of apertures are spaced apart X The wall thickness of all parts is about The side walls 7 and 8 are upwardly divergent and have inside and outside vertical extents of and respectively. The bottom 9 is .781" wide on the inside and its corners are rounded on the outside and inside. The space between the upper edges of the side walls is about .851" wide. The vertical extent of the inner lower half bearing members is .187", and thus the same as the distance between the center line of an aperture 10 and the upper surface of bottom 9. The holes 10 are dimensioned to accommodate ,4 diameter trunnions. The bottom inclines upwardly by an angle of about 5 from a distance about W back from the front surface of web portion 5".

The bottom of the channel shaped shank of the toe part is about .593" wide between the facing sides of opposite half-bearing members, there is a space of about .781" between the walls at the juncture of the tops of the half-bearing members therewith, and the space between the outside of the walls is about at the center-line of the apertures.

The heel part is about 5 /2" in length at its center-line. The side walls while generally upwardly divergent have a lower vertical portion 16 about in height and about 3" in length. The distance between the outside surfaces of the lower vertical portions of the side walls is about .578". The distance between the outside upper edges of side walls 14, 15 is about .842". The center-line of the A1" trunnions 19 is about .178" above the lower surfaces of bifurcated portions 17 and 18. These portions are about 1% in axial extent forwardly of the bottom of the heel part, are spaced apart about .459", and the distance between their outer surfaces is about .584". The shaped extension or heel block portions is about 2 high at its tip.

Each trunnion is about in extent so that about /2 its length is supported on the upper surface of an inner lower half hearing member or block 11 and the other half of its length is journalled by the surface 12 of the side wall that defines the upper half of each aperture 10.

It is therefore clear that the trunnions can be inserted in a selected pair of transversely aligned apertures 10 and the heel part can nest inside the shank of the toe part.

While the invention has been described with reference to a shoe tree for womens shoes, certain important aspects thereof can be embodied in shoe trees for mens shoes. Thus by changing the shape of the toe section 3 and the shape of the extension or heel block 20, a shoe tree for mens shoes can be constructed embodying the unique trunnion supporting arrangement of the invention.

Also the cooperating trunnion and bearing arrangements can in certain instances be reversed in that the toe section can include a shank having bifurcated ends carrying laterally projecting trunnions and the heel section can have spaced side walls embodying series of apertures and inner half bearing surfaces for receiving and pivotally supporting the trunnions.

Further, if desired, the side walls of the channel shaped part that has the trunnion receiving apertures therein can be molded so that the lower half bearing surfaces or block portions are provided on the interior of the side walls and the exterior of the side walls are smooth and not depressed as shown on the drawings. With this relationship, theentire axial extent of a lower half bearing surface is at least double the axial extent of an upper half bearing surface of a trunnion.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the invention provides a novel two-part shoe tree of unique and inexpensive construction. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-part shoe tree comprising a toe part including a toe section of a shape to fit the toe of a shoe and a rearwardly extending shank, a heel part including a rear section of a shape to the heel of a shoe and a forwardly extending shank, one of said shanks including a bifurcated end portion, a pair of opposed, laterally projecting, aligned trunnions carried by said bifurcated end portion, the other of said shanks including spaced 5 side walls having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures therein arranged in transversely aligned pairs of apertures, said trunnions being selectively engageable with a respective pair of said apertures and means internally of said side walls at each aperture defining trunnion-supporting and bearing surfaces.

2. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the rear section of the heel part includes a curved rear surface having a reversely curved portion intermediate its ends so as to be cooperable with footwear of the closed and open heel varieties.

3. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 1 in which each part is of unitary construction, said rearwardly extending shank of the toe part being channel-shaped and including said spaced side walls, said forwardly extending shank of said heel part having the bifurcated end portion and said last mentioned means comprising lower half bearings including surfaces having an axial extent at least equal to the wall thickness of said side walls.

4. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 3 in which said last mentioned means includes vertically disposed internal side surfaces.

5. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 4 in which said parts are of molded synthetic resin material having a characteristic resiliency permitting flexing without destruction of molecular bonding structure, said toe part including a web of material closing the rear end of the toe section and the front end of the channel shaped rearwardly extending shank, said forwardly extending shank of the. heel part being channel-shaped up to said bifurcated end portion, and including side walls having a lower portion defining a channel section of reduced thickness so as to fit within the channel-shaped rearwardly extending shank of the toe part between the internal side surfaces of said lower half bearings.

6. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 3 and including a first web of material closing the rear end of the shaped toe section and a second web of material along the front end of the channel-shaped rearwardly extending shank, and transversely spaced ribs depending from the inner surface of said shaped toe section and extending to the outer Surface of said second web of material.

7. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 6 in which said first web of material inclines upwardly and forwardly of said second web of material.

8. A shoe tree as claimed in claim 3 in which said channel-shaped shank of the toe part includes a bottom having a front portion inclined upwardly toward said shaped toe section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 971,622 10/1910 Markey 12-1 17.4 1,285,130 11/1918 Goodwin 12117.4 1,469,171 9/1923 Ballard 12117.4 2,449,861 9/ 1948 Renner 12128 3,263,252 8/1966 Johnson 12---l16.6

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

